"Hmph!"
Seeing the incoming flames, the Pighead General abandoned Gabil, changed the direction of his great axe, and met the flames. The magic-infused weapon clashed against the fire, erupting in a violent explosion.
"Boom!"
The thick smoke blocked his vision.
"Flame Breathing, Second Form: Rising Scorching Sun!"
"Oh no!"
A blazing arc tore through the smoke. The Pighead General attempted to leap back, but he was too late.
"Pfft!"
A flaming slash cut across his chest. He staggered, blood spilling from his mouth as he knelt on one knee.
"A human…? Why would a human appear in the Lizardmen's territory?!"
Rengoku Kyoujurou planted his flaming blade before him.
"My name is Rengoku Kyoujurou, subordinate of Lord Rimuru—future ruler of the Great Jura Forest."
"And as for why I am here… Rimuru-sama commanded me to stop you."
The Pighead General scoffed. "Rimuru? Some nameless fool wants to rule the Great Forest? Ridiculous!"
"You have strength, human. But do you really think you alone can stop my army?"
Rengoku smiled confidently.
"Hahaha! Who said I was alone?"
The forest shook.
War cries erupted.
"Kill them!"
"For Lord Rimuru—charge!!!"
A wave of soldiers surged in from all directions.
Gobuta rode at the front, swinging a spiked club as his Storm Fang Wolf leapt through the Orcs.
Behind him, dozens of Goblin cavalry thundered through the ranks, tearing open the encirclement.
"Gobuta! You're too fast again!"
"Water Breathing, First Form: Water Surface Slash!"
Tomioka Giyuu cut down dozens of Orcs with a single sweeping motion.
Black Flames Ravage the Battlefield
"Boom boom boom!!!"
Columns of Black Flames erupted across the swamp. Any Orc touched by them was instantly incinerated.
Thousands perished in seconds.
The Pighead General narrowed his eyes. "Such overwhelming magic… I must defeat this human quickly!"
He raised his axe.
"For the King's ideal! One of us will die here!"
Rengoku nodded respectfully.
"Then come—let us settle this!"
Both warriors charged.
Benimaru's Vengeance
At the perimeter, several Orc guards spotted three silhouettes emerging from the fog.
"Who goes there?!"
Benimaru stepped forward.
"I told you to get out of the way."
The Orc soldier trembled. "Y-you… Ogre Clans?!"
Benimaru conjured a sphere of Black Flames.
"We've waited a long time for this."
Shion shouldered her greatsword. "Thanks to Lord Rimuru and Lord Takumi—today we reclaim our honor."
Benimaru raised the orb.
"One last warning. Move aside, pigs—unless you want to burn."
"Black Flames!!!"
The explosion vaporized hundreds.
Rimuru Watches From Above
Rimuru, floating mid-air, nodded in awe.
"Amazing! Benimaru is incredible… Now where's the Orc Lord?"
Suddenly, the sky darkened. Thunder roared.
Tornadoes swept through the Orc troops, flinging bodies into the air.
"What is that?!" Rimuru asked.
"Answer: Individual name Ranga. Skill—Black Lightning Storm."
"Ranga did THAT?! What a monster!"
Demon Slayer Corps Enter the Fray
Sword flashes illuminated the battlefield as Shiro dashed through the Orcs.
Behind him, dozens of Orcs collapsed simultaneously.
Shion cleaved through an entire line of Orcs with one massive swing.
"Lord Rimuru—your first victory report!" she proclaimed happily.
Rimuru waved back with a laugh.
The Demon Slayer Corps moved with ease, their bodies strengthened by the magical atmosphere of the Great Jura Forest.
The Goblin warriors, upgraded by Kajin's latest equipment, fought fiercely.
Benimaru's squad had become the core of the assault.
"The Garrison Takumi trained is terrifying!" Rimuru muttered.
"But good—this war will end faster!"
She glanced toward the swamps.
"I wonder how Souei is doing…"
Meanwhile — Takumi Watches Through the Water Mirror
Takumi lounged comfortably, watching the battlefield through a floating water mirror.
"Oh ho… the Demon Slayer Corps got buffed by the world. But me? The world didn't even give me a basic skill?"
"System, care to explain?"
The System replied flatly:
"Host, you are a three-dimensional being intruding into a two-dimensional world. To them, you appear as corrupted data—unreadable."
Takumi snorted. "Just say 'virus,' already."
He flicked his hand.
The mirror shifted to Rimuru.
A towering Orc appeared before her.
The Orc Lord.
Takumi leaned back with a grin.
"Oh? The main event finally begins…"